Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
What was I - What power or right had I to oppose the manifest will of God that the Gentiles should be received into the Christian church.
Withstand God - Oppose or resist God. He had indicated his will; he had showed his intention to save the Gentiles; and the prejudices of Peter were all overcome. One of the best means of destroying prejudice and false opinions is a powerful revival of religion. More erroneous doctrines and unholy feelings are overcome in such scenes than in all the bigoted and fierce contentions that have ever taken place. If people wish to root error out of the church, they should strive by all means to promote everywhere revivals of pure and undefiled religion. The Holy Spirit more easily and effectually silences false doctrine, and destroys heresy, than all the denunciations of fierce theologians; all the alarms of heated zealots for orthodoxy; and all the anathemas which professed love for the purity of the church ever utters from the icebergs on which such champions usually seek their repose and their home.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Acts 11:17:
Acts 8:20
Acts 10:44
Romans 15:16
Galatians 2:8
Galatians 3:2
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